Growing Inland Achievement

Category: News

  • GIA Workshop Helps Hundreds of Families Access Financial Aid Resources

    GIA Workshop Helps Hundreds of Families Access Financial Aid Resources

    On February 22, Growing Inland Achievement (GIA), in partnership with the BLU Educational Foundation and the Cal-SOAP San Bernardino Consortium, hosted a Super Saturday Financial Aid Workshop at San Bernardino Valley College. The event provided hands-on support to students and families navigating the financial aid process.

    More than 220 students and their families attended, with one-on-one assistance provided to 70 students completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the California Dream Act Application (CADAA). To further support students on their path to college, GIA awarded four Inland Empire students $500 scholarships to help cover education costs.

    Admissions representatives from California State University, San Bernardino, and the University of California, Riverside were also on hand to answer questions and provide insights into the college application process.

    This event was made possible through the support of San Bernardino Valley College, which provided a welcoming space for students and families, and the collaboration of BLU Educational Foundation, whose partnership was essential to the event’s success. Together, we are expanding access to financial aid resources and ensuring that more Inland Empire students have the support they need to pursue their college and career goals.

  • Success at the IE College Expo

    Success at the IE College Expo

    NCRF & GIA Staff at the IE College Expo

    On Friday, January 31, more than 2,000 students and families gathered at the Riverside Convention Center for the first-ever NCRF Inland Empire College Expo, an event to expand access to higher education. The event was hosted by Growing Inland Achievement (GIA) in partnership with the National College Resources Foundation (NCRF).

    Students had the opportunity to meet with representatives from public and private universities, community colleges, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Those who brought transcripts were considered for immediate acceptance, resulting in 187 students receiving on-the-spot college offers and more than $3.3 million in scholarships awarded.

    The strong turnout underscores the region’s continued demand for college access support. GIA remains committed to convening partners, advocating for postsecondary opportunities, and investing in initiatives that create access to higher education.

    Watch the highlight video below to hear students share their experiences and future plans.

  • GIA Board Adopts Regional Goal to Increase Postsecondary Attainment to 70%

    GIA Board Adopts Regional Goal to Increase Postsecondary Attainment to 70%

    The Board of Directors of Growing Inland Achievement (GIA) has formally adopted a Regional Call to Action committing to a bold regional goal: 70% of working-age adults (ages 25–64) in the Inland Empire will hold a postsecondary degree or credential of value by 2030.

    The resolution reflects a shared regional vision to increase educational attainment and economic mobility through cross-sector collaboration. It aligns with California’s statewide postsecondary attainment goal, while also addressing the Inland Empire’s specific need for a more competitive, highly skilled workforce.

    Currently, only 32% of working-age adults in the region have completed a postsecondary credential. Reaching 70% will require measurable progress across the cradle-to-career continuum—including early literacy, high school graduation, postsecondary enrollment and completion, and alignment of credentials with livable-wage employment sectors.

    “This is our collective call to action,” the resolution states. “Achieving this goal is not about a single institution or sector. It requires regional commitment across education, business, government, and community organizations.”

    The Regional Call to Action also highlights the economic implications of educational attainment. Research shows that each additional college graduate contributes nearly $100,000 in annual regional gross product and supports the creation of 4.8 local jobs. The resolution commits GIA to setting annual targets and supporting a shared measurement system to track progress over time.

    The goal is part of GIA’s broader 2030 Strategic Plan. “This goal aligns with the state’s vision, but it is also uniquely ours,” said Dr. Ashish K. Vaidya, GIA President & CEO. “It reflects the urgency of this moment and our responsibility to work together across San Bernardino and Riverside Counties to expand educational success and economic mobility for Inland Empire residents.”

    The resolution was formally adopted and signed by the full GIA Board of Directors:

    • Dr. Ashish K. Vaidya, President & CEO, Growing Inland Achievement

    • Ted Alejandre, County Superintendent of Schools, San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools

    • Michelle Decker, President & CEO, Inland Empire Community Foundation

    • Dr. Edwin Gomez, County Superintendent of Schools, Riverside County Office of Education

    • Paul Granillo, President & CEO, Inland Empire Economic Partnership

    • Dr. Wolde-Ab Isaac, Chancellor, Riverside Community College District

    • Dr. Tomas D. Morales, President, California State University, San Bernardino

    • Dr. Diana Z. Rodriguez, Chancellor, San Bernardino Community College District

    • Dr. Henry D. Shannon, Superintendent/President, Chaffey College

    • Sheila Thornton, President & CEO, OneFuture Coachella Valley

    • Dr. Kim A. Wilcox, Chancellor, University of California, Riverside

    The full Call to Action document is available at: https://bit.ly/regionalcta

  • PROPEL AI Symposium 2025

    PROPEL AI Symposium 2025

    Promoting Regional Opportunities for Prosperity and Educational Leadership with AI

    Join us for the 2025 PROPEL AI Symposium

    Connect with educators, industry leaders, and community partners to explore how artificial intelligence can revolutionize education and workforce development. Together, we’ll share insights, innovative strategies, and practical solutions to promote equitable educational attainment and economic mobility in the Inland Empire.

    The 2025 PROPEL AI Symposium will take place on Friday, February 21, 2025, from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM at the Santos Manuel Student Union North Conference Center at Cal State San Bernardino.

    Join us for a day of learning, collaboration, and inspiration to drive meaningful change in education and beyond. 

    About Growing Inland Achievement  

    Growing Inland Achievement (GIA) serves the Inland Empire region of Southern California—the 12th largest metropolitan statistical area in the U.S., including over 4.7 million residents and over one million students. GIA supports a regional cross-sector network of education, government, nonprofit, and business partners, collectively working to achieve a shared vision of educational and economic success. GIA’s shared vision is that by 2035, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties will be widely recognized for their educated workforce, thriving communities, and vibrant economy that creates prosperity for all. 

  • GIA Selected as Client for UCR Master of Public Policy Capstone Project

    GIA Selected as Client for UCR Master of Public Policy Capstone Project

    Growing Inland Achievement selected as a client for UC Riverside’s capstone project to develop policy solutions for returning adult learners in the Inland Empire.

    INLAND EMPIRE, CA – Growing Inland Achievement (GIA) has been selected as a client for this year’s UC Riverside School of Public Policy (SPP) Master of Public Policy (MPP) capstone project. This unique program connects organizations with second-year MPP students to tackle critical issues through applied research and policy analysis.

    GIA’s project will focus on identifying effective policies to support returning adult learners in the Inland Empire. A team of three talented students—Veronica Ibarra, Denise Mayen, and Jesica Santiago—will lead this research under the academic direction of Dr. Andy Crosby, Assistant Professor of Teaching at UCR’s SPP, and with support from the Center for Community Solutions (CCS).

    Dr. Justine Ross, Executive Director of the Center for Community Solutions in UCR’s School of Public Policy shares, “Our Center’s mission is to connect academic research with practice and policy, so we are grateful to count Growing Inland Achievement as a partner in this effort and excited for the UCR School of Public Policy’s master’s students to gain real-world experience developing evidence-based recommendations to the benefit adult learners in our region.” 

    This collaborative effort will run from January to June, delivering actionable insights to inform GIA’s work in fostering equitable educational and economic opportunities for adult learners in the region.

    “We’re excited to collaborate with the exceptional students and faculty at UC Riverside to explore solutions that address the challenges faced by adult learners in our region,” said Ashish Vaidya, CEO of GIA. “This partnership offers a valuable opportunity to bring new insights to an issue that is critical to our mission.”


    About Growing Inland Achievement  

    Growing Inland Achievement (GIA) serves the Inland Empire region of Southern California—the 12th largest metropolitan statistical area in the U.S., including over 4.7 million residents and over one million students. GIA supports a regional cross-sector network of education, government, nonprofit, and business partners, collectively working to achieve a shared vision of educational and economic success. GIA’s shared vision is that by 2035, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties will be widely recognized for their educated workforce, thriving communities, and vibrant economy that creates prosperity for all.